Indonesia minister alleges Singapore resells LNG amid calls to improve ties: 'Some are traded and subsequently exported'印尼部长指责新加坡转售液化天然气，并呼吁改善两国关系：“部分液化天然气被交易后出口。”
Indonesian minister Bahlil Lahadalia has alleged that Singapore is reselling some of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes imported from Indonesia to other countries."I believe that not all of the 148 cargoes we send are used for Singapore’s own needs, but some are traded and subsequently exported to other countries," the Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition said on...
Indonesian minister Bahlil Lahadalia has alleged that Singapore is reselling some of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes imported from Indonesia to other countries.
"I believe that not all of the 148 cargoes we send are used for Singapore’s own needs, but some are traded and subsequently exported to other countries," the Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition said on Thursday (Oct 29), after meeting President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.
Bahlil did not provide any evidence to support his claims.
The comments follow Indonesia's move to cut natural gas exports, which is separate from LNG, to Singapore on Oct 24, in order to prioritise domestic demand.
The Energy Market Authority clarified on Oct 24 that the reduction amounts to less than two per cent of Singapore's total daily gas demand, with Singapore's Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng adding on Oct 25 that the cuts are unlikely to affect electricity prices in the short term.
In response to the gas cuts, Prime Minister Lawrence said on Oct 25 that Singapore expected all parties to honour their commitments to commercial contracts.
Bahlil then defended Indonesia's actions by clarifying that the 31 million standard cubic feet per day reduction of piped gas exports was within the minimum contractual limits under existing agreements.
"Do not lecture Indonesia about its commitment to honouring and respecting contracts," he said on Oct 26, emphasising that the reduction was due to maintenance-related shutdowns and domestic demand.
Bahlil's recent allegations about reselling LNG also come amidst efforts from both Singapore and Indonesia to improve ties after tensions surrounding energy supplies and transboundary haze.
The two countries are looking to set up a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest fires which have caused transboundary haze, announced Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesia Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in a joint press conference on Oct 27.
laili.abdeen@asiaone.com
印尼部长巴赫利尔·拉哈达利亚指控新加坡将从印尼进口的部分液化天然气（LNG）货物转售给其他国家。
“我相信我们运送的 148 批货物并非全部用于新加坡自身需求，而是有些被转为贸易，随后出口到其他国家，”下游产业和能源转型统筹部长周四（10 月 29 日）在雅加达会见总统普拉博沃·苏比安托后表示。
巴赫利尔没有提供任何证据来支持他的说法。
此前，印尼于 10 月 24 日削减了对新加坡的天然气出口（与液化天然气不同），以优先满足国内需求。
新加坡能源市场管理局于 10 月 24 日澄清，此次减产幅度不到新加坡每日天然气总需求的 2%。新加坡能源、贸易和工业部长（能源和工业）陈诗龙于 10 月 25 日补充说，此次减产不太可能在短期内影响电价。
针对天然气供应中断，新加坡总理劳伦斯于10月25日表示，新加坡希望所有各方都能履行其对商业合同的承诺。
巴利尔随后为印尼的行动辩护，澄清说，每天减少 3100 万标准立方英尺的管道天然气出口量在现有协议规定的最低合同限额之内。
“不要就印尼履行和尊重合同的承诺对印尼进行说教，”他在10月26日表示，并强调减产是由于维护相关的停产和国内需求造成的。
巴赫利尔最近对转售液化天然气的指控，也正值新加坡和印度尼西亚努力改善因能源供应和跨境雾霾而导致的紧张关系之际。
新加坡外交部长维文·巴拉克里希南博士和印度尼西亚外交部长阿曼纳塔·纳西尔在10月27日举行的联合新闻发布会上宣布，两国正考虑成立一个联合工作组，追究造成跨境烟霾的森林火灾相关公司的责任。
laili.abdeen@asiaone.com